The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is marking its 60th anniversary with two significant organizational changes aimed at enhancing efficiency and capturing opportunities in emerging markets. Chairman Professor Frederick Ma announced the initiatives on July 26, 2026, citing shifting geopolitics, supply chain reconfigurations, and technological advancements as drivers for the move.
The first initiative, Optimising Corporate Structure, involves reorganizing the HKTDC’s services into six industry clusters: Finance and Professional Services; Global Network and Supply Chain; Technology and Digital Innovation; Wellness and Creative Industries; Consumer Goods and Lifestyle; and Corporate Development. According to Executive Director Sophia Chong, this cluster approach enhances operational efficiency and sector knowledge, enabling teams to provide more integrated solutions. “Whether companies are keen to gather market intelligence, participate in local or international exhibitions, conferences and overseas missions, match with investors, expand their production line or tap new markets, stakeholders across industries can access our one-stop support through a single point of contact,” Chong said.
The second initiative, Optimising Resources, focuses on reconfiguring the HKTDC’s global network of 51 offices to target high-growth emerging markets. The council will strengthen its consultant offices in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and establish a new office in Cairo, Egypt, to support the economic corridor spanning Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In the Americas, capabilities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile—which will also oversee Peru—will be enhanced to capture opportunities in the Global South. In ASEAN, the HKTDC will bolster promotional work in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, while also strengthening its presence in Istanbul and Warsaw. For traditional markets, the HKTDC will maintain two-way trade with North America and expand the London office’s responsibilities to include Nordic markets.
Professor Ma emphasized that these changes align with Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan and support the country’s development by leveraging the city’s role as a superconnector. “We are grateful for the Chief Executive for leading the successful mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June which helped to open doors for Hong Kong enterprises and generated many potential opportunities on which we will follow up,” Ma said. The HKTDC aims to help Chinese Mainland enterprises go global while encouraging international companies to use Hong Kong as a base for expansion.
The announcements come as the HKTDC celebrates its 60th anniversary, promoting Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The council operates over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, and organizes international exhibitions, conferences, and business missions. More information about the initiatives can be found at the HKTDC’s 60th Anniversary website and Media Room.
